Loose-leaf binder clip



Oct. 21, 1941. P. y. WISDOM' 2,259,505

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER CLIP Filed April 8, 1940 l0 T 49 /8 M 20 I mvmox BY P044411?!) K W/spom WWW? ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 21, 1941 OFFICE LOOSE-LEAF BINDER our Pollard V. Wisdom, New York, N. Y.

Application April 8, 1940, Serial No. 328,438

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to looseleaf binders and is directed to a device for removably retaining looseleaves in a brief back, folder or the like without the necessity of providing the leaves with perforations or other equivalent cooperative binding means.

The invention broadly comprehends an improved binder clip which is so constructed and arranged as to provide means for self-attachment to a brief back or folder.

More particularly the invention resides in a looseleaf binder clip which embodies normally closed clamping jaws adapted to receive therebetween the leaves to be bound in which each jaw is provided with means adapted toclamp between itself and the jaw a fold of a pleated connection between a brief back or folder.

As a still further object the invention contemplates in a looseleaf binder clip of the indicated character, leverage means movable to a position to efiect the opening of the clamping jaws of the clip for facilitating the insertion and removal of the looseleaves to be bound.

With these and other objects in view, the invention is disclosed in greater detail in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a looseleaf folder with the front open and equipped with binder clips for holding the looseleaves in place.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken approximately on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar View illustrating the lever means disposed in an active position and functioning to move the clamping jaws of the clip to an open position for facilitating the insertion and removal of the looseleaves.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the binder clips disassociated from the folder.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, A designates generally a brief back or folder which includes front and rear leaves I!) and II which are joined by a pleated connection [2 providing the folds l3.

The binder clips which are designated generally by the reference character B are associated with the brief back or folder and may be used singly or in pairs, two being shown in the present embodiment. Each clip includes a body which is fashioned from a length of resilient material bent upon itself to provide a pair of clamping jaws l5 connected by a bight portion 16 and the free ends I! of which are normally urged into closed relation under the inherent resiliency of the material. Each jaw is provided with an exteriorly disposed terminal l8 which is reversely directed from the free end I! and is normally urged into contact with the jaw. The jaws l5 are adapted to receive and clamp therebetween the loose leaves C. to be bound, while each terminal I8 is adapted to clamp between itself and its jaw a fold I3 of the pleated connection I2 of the brief back or folder A. This associates the clip with the brief back or folder in a position to function as a means for connecting the loose leaves C therewith.

In order to provide means for opening the clamping jaws IE to facilitate the insertion and removal of the loose leaves C, a lever 19 is swingably connected by a pivot 20 toeach of the terminals l8 and said levers are normally disposed in an inactive position extending longitudinally of the terminal l8 as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. The levers [9 are moved from the inactive position to the active position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and to the full line position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 by swinging the same on their pivots 20 to dispose them transversely of the length of the terminals to protrude beyond the free ends. In this position pressure is applied to the protruding ends for moving the same towards each other to thereby effect spreading of the free ends I! of the jaws l5 as illustrated in Fig. 3. This facilitates the insertion of the loose leaves C between the clamping jaws or the removal of the leaves therefrom. Upon release of the pressure on the lever terminals, it is obvious that the inherent resiliency of the jaws will effect clamping action of the same upon the looseleaves to retain the said leaves associated with the brief back or folder A.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a loose leaf binder having front and back leaves with a pleated connection therebetween, of a clip including a pair of normally closed resilient clamping jaws, adapted to receive and clampingly retain therebetween the leaves to be bound, and an exteriorly disposed terminal at and reversely directed from the free end of each jaw clamping between itself and the jaw a fold of the pleated connection of the back leaves of the binder.

2. In combination with a loose leaf binder having front and back leaves with a pleated connection therebetween, of a clip including a pair of normally closed resilient clamping jaws adapted to receive and clampingly retain therebetween the leaves to be bound, an exteriorly disposed terminal at and reversely directed from the free end of each jaw clamping between itself and the jaw a fold of the pleated connection of the back leaves of the binder, and a lever carried by and pivotally conected with each of said jaw terminals for swinging movement from an inactive position disposed longitudinally of the terminal to an active position transversely thereof and protruding beyond the free end of the terminal to serve as means for opening the sheet clamping Jaws.

3. In a clip for loose leaf binders having front and back leaves with a pleated connection therebetween, a resilient body including a pair of normally closed clamping jaws adapted to receive and clampingly retain therebetween the leaves to be bound, a reversely directed exteriorly disposed terminal at the free end of each jaw of a lesser length than and terminating within the confines of the jaw so as to provide means for respectively clamping between each terminal and jaw a fold of the pleated connection between the front and back leaves of the binder, and a lever carried by and pivotally connected with each of said jaw terminals for swinging movement from an inactive position disposed longitudinally of the terminal to an active position transversely thereof with the free end of the lever protruding beyond the free end of the terminal to serve as a means for opening the sheet clamping jaws.

POLLARD V. WISDOM. 

